Exposed: police rot

The country’s most trusted spy outfit – the SAPS’s crime intelligence – is teetering on the brink of collapse owing to rampant mismanagement, fraud, corruption, nepotism and a lack of leadership.

A number of concerned operatives have written several dossiers raising concerns about how the mismanagement of crime intelligence is a security risk for the nation – given the historic problems that affected the perpetually ineffective National Intelligence Agency. In one of the confidential dossiers, they claim that “a dynasty like the one alleged in the British Intelligence Service is created… (and) it looks after itself and family interests through state resources. Meetings are scheduled in comfortable hideouts at state costs, only to find that it was family or friends’ outing”.

In a document, dated October 27, 2009, one PZ Magadla of counter- intelligence in KwaZulu-Natal reports that another dossier on “diverse issues of corruption and other ills” was being prepared. One senior leader based in Gauteng is accused of taking his girlfriend on an official trip to Singapore. A handful of crime intelligence operatives told The Sunday Independent that a report two weeks ago in this paper on jobs and promotions for General Bheki Cele’s pals was the tip of the iceberg since the organisation was badly infested.

They said it was disturbing that even those in charge of covert operations were caught in a web of criminality. This raised the serious question of who, in fact, was watching over the republic?

The NIA is battling to recover from divisions and paralysis that came with former director-general Billy Masetlha’s messy axing and the hoax e-mail saga.

Some in crime intelligence have pointed an accusing finger at crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli, accusing him of acting outside of the law and allowing an environment of maladministration and mismanagement to fester under his stewardship. They allege Mdluli has his eyes removed from:

*Abuse of covert premises, where girlfriends are housed

* Abuse of a slush fund, with “loans” to operatives favoured by the leadership

* Some people who registered their children as crime intelligence sources in order to get income.

The situation appears worse in KZN with more than five top officials employing their sons, sisters, girlfriends, nieces and wives.

More than 30 officials in KZN crime intelligence are related to each other. Deputy national commissioner of police Ray Lalla and KZN head of crime intelligence Dina Moodley are fingered in a confidential nepotism report written after a mass crime intelligence meeting held at Amanzimtoti Civic Centre on KZN’s South Coast in October 2009.

Lalla’s daughter was, at the time the report was written, working for crime intelligence.

The report points out that nepotism poses a security risk due to the sensitive nature of the crime intelligence environment and the level of objectivity that is expected.

“The employment as well as the unfair promotion of relatives in that environment is a serious threat to security. Some of these people are employed and placed in covert premises. Those who are aware of such practices can blackmail those who perpetrate this practice and threaten them to the extent of forcing them to divulge classified state information,” it reads.

Several laid the blame on Mdluli’s leadership and the protection he appeared to receive from Cele. “It is a Zulu dynasty – I dare Cele to act against Mdluli. We have a Zulu-Nostra now. Cele knows what the problems with Mdluli are. Should the organisation collapse before he does something?” asked a source. The specific allegations against Mdluli are that:

* He appointed under-qualified people to lead experienced spooks because he did not trust them. They use the example of a human resources development officer who was appointed head of crime intelligence without a knowledge of the environment.

*He allegedly protects Major General Solly Lazarus, in charge of the spooks slush fund, from the vetting staff who want to subject him to a vetting process.

*He and Lazarus created 250 new posts without consulting HR – and advertised the posts without mentioning them as SAPS posts and thus denying many opportunities of promotions.

* He recommended to Cele the promotion of Constable Nkosana Sebastian Ximba, who jumped seven ranks to become a colonel. This was in spite of the fact that Ximba was facing a case of assault with grievous bodily harm which was opened at Johannesburg Central. He is perceived as a close acquaintance of Mdluli.

* Like ministers, Mdluli drives two official cars – a Q7 and a Mercedes – and has assigned to himself a driver and a bodyguard even though there is no such policy provision for his post.

Those who spoke to The Sunday Independent wanted to know what Cele was doing about the mess.

The SAPS’ spokesperson, Nonkululeko Mbatha said the police management wished not to comment about the allegations.

However she said they were aware of them. Mdluli couldn’t be reached on his cellphone yesterday and also did not return text messages sent to him.

Two other sources at senior level said that Cele was “extremely concerned” about the leadership paralysis in crime intelligence and was allegedly working behind the scenes to restore order.

Moodley allegedly brought in his brother who was working for the Department of Correctional Services and gave him a captain’s rank.

Moodley’s brother was placed on undercover gathering and resigned after just over a year.

Ngidi is alleged to have brought in his stepdaughter (a daughter out of wedlock by his wife) as a clerk. She was soon promoted to captain. She then became a lieutenant colonel at crime intelligence after a couple of years.

Ndlovu, according to the report, employed his girlfriend to the rank of lieutenant colonel at the security intelligence division five months after she had joined crime intelligence as a detective.

Mncwango employed his son, Madikane employed his sister who is, according to the report, stationed at Umlazi crime intelligence while Ncube employed his sister’s daughter. - Sunday Independent

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GATVOL,
wrote

03:52pm on 28 October 2010

I demand that something be done to these people. They should be expelled from the SAPS with immediate effect so that they will not be able to interfere with the investigation as they usually do to cover their asses.

It is about time this rotten cop in power gets exposed, I wonder would parliament call in general Cele in to account for his mess, Ag! We know the one in majority would cover for their mess (ANC) it is about time the we as South African we wake up before it is too late, let alone colours it is not colours now it is who you know. We have so intermarry to a point that colours is an old political card.

It is quite saddening to learn that our people continue to be self-centered about the wealth of this country. Who wants to lead this country to properity for all. Was it the Old man himself? because for now no one seems interested in leading poor people everyone who is in power want to lead their families and friends to richness and eventually pretend to be loving everyone while they know very well that they are interested in themselves and the richies that comes with such office. When will we end such crimminality? Who will end it? How? The community at large need to open eyes and stand together in fighting such a scourge. We can start by no voting in everyone who smells corruption. We should not be taken away by their luxuries during election campaigns. it is propaganda not sincere election canvassing. they know that they canvassing to be in positions and forget about us after elections because they will be preoccupied with corruption instead of service delivery. It is better to stand on the fence than voting someone who will forget about you and remember their friends and families. away with nepotism and cronyism. African wake up and defend yourself from this wolfpack and vultures as well as predators. Africa is for all and South African for South Africans not a certain ethnic group. This is tragedy waiting to befall this wonderful country!!

The police will never be a police under Political appointee (General). Forget it. Rule and Regulations controlling the police will continue to be manipulated to benefit certain. The medical department is under a doctor why cant the police be under a person with legal knowledge and experince.

Our country needs all of us worked together withuot blaming each others. ANC has gone too far this time. Even the blind can see. Corrupt people are dividing us so that we don't become one nation, otherwise we will be powerfull and the will be week. As long as we continue blaming each others we are giving mandate to curruption to continue. This was supposed to be my govenment, your govenment , our govermnet not corrupt govt. We have choice to fix the problem together or let the problem existing until we bankrumpt.

Another shining example of the ANC's practise of cader deployment. It is not a question of if whe are descending into an African Banana Republic but how soon - if we are not already there. I have friends in Europe, UK, US, Australia (that is not expats) and they laugh at what happens in this counrty. I love SA dearly, there isnothing in the world like our nature, nothing like a braai on a Satuday afternoon but methinks its time to pack my bags. We have to stop asking when somebody will do something about this type of thing because it will never stop, its part and parcel of the "struggle" organisations make-up.

We have no hope, even if another party comes to power its going to be very hard to rid the country of crime and corruption. The ANC have entrenched this mindset in every facet of governing body with in SA. Try to remove them and we will be classed as racist. What hope do the good honest people black and white have???
Since the ANC has taken power its all been about self enrichment, the pot of money that lay in front of them was to irresistable to resist! The same money that should have been used to improve the lives of the poor!!! The ANC have plundered this country, supporters talk all you want this fact will not change and in time you will not have a thing ... no job no nothing!!!

The blurring of the police and the criminal community is impairing my eyesight. Let's start from the beginning with honest, properly trained people whom we can admire and feel they're doing the tough job to the best of their abilities. The alternative... unsolved crimes, tragic stories daily in the newspapers and the loss of trust in the force designed to keep South Africans safe.

The African Nepotic Cancer (thanks viv) attacks every organ to thrive. Only harsh procedures can be administered in an attempt to cleanse the body, if at all. The most logical and painful (to those immediately affected) procedure is the removal of parasites, so we may gracefully go on. That is where we stand - this is highly infectious and even 'clean' cells could be harbouring cancerous desires

History never lies but it certainly repeats itself. To alter the course of history, it takes many great people hundreds of years. Did we (RSA) ever think that we would be any different to the rest of Africa.I currently do not see ANY great people trying to change the course of African history. ALL our leaders seem only too happy to enrich themselves, their families and their 'cronies' whilst allowing SA to decay into a cesspool that will eventually have to rely on hand outs from the rest of the world in order to feed its people.I always thought that the majority of the leaders in SA were capable but corrupt leaders. I'm now beginning to think that most of them are incompetent, lazy, stupid people who are totally out of there depth and who should not be allowed near a leadership role.

It does'nt stop does it?! NO ONE in our infra structures, government and governing bodies CAN be trusted! A corrupt bunch of individuals who ABUSE their power and will do ANYTHING to enrich themselves and their off spring! Hope they ROT!